Myths about sunscreen.

Often, we love going out to experience the fantastic feeling of the sun's warmth. Going out is fun; it increases one's mood, harnesses improved social interaction, provides access to enhanced air quality, and decreases stress and anxiety. The body naturally produces vitamin D with the aid of sunlight. Vitamin D reduces depression, strengthens bones, boosts the immune system, lowers preterm labour risk, and improves sleep. 

Although the sun produces vitamin D, which is good for the skin, it is advisable to protect one's skin against sun rays, UVA, and UVB exposure before you go outdoors. The protection can be in the form of applying sunscreens, as health practitioners recommend. Apart from sunscreens, attires that cover your neck, hands, and legs are encouraged because they stop the rays from penetrating deep into your screen. The truth is that failure to protect your skin from sun rays causes your skin to age prematurely, and you risk contracting skin cancer. The danger might sound false, but it is a reality we must not neglect. 

There are myths and misconceptions about sunscreen, but knowing the facts behind the sunscreen is necessary towards using it correctly. Let us look at some of those myths: 

All sunscreen is the same.

Saying that all sunscreens are the same is like claiming that all lakes are the same, an incorrect argument. No sunscreen is the same, as each composition differs from the others. There are different lakes, namely freshwater, saline, Rift Valley, and permanent and temporary lakes. These lakes have different sizes, water volumes, and lengths and cannot be the same.

Similarly, sunscreens cannot be the same as there are two types: physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens use the minerals zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to block UV rays from the skin, like a shield. Contrarily, chemical sunscreens block UV rays using substances like avobenzone, oxtinoxate, and oxybenzone.

Sunscreen reduces vitamin D levels.

If sunscreen reduces vitamin D, why not makeup and body lotions? Are they not smeared on the skin like sunscreen? Why are they not blocking vitamin D like sunscreen, as some argue? 

One source of vitamin D is sunlight, which is present in some foods and supplements. However, there are better ways to obtain enough of this vitamin than unprotected sun exposure, as stated by Antony Young, PhD, a professor emeritus of experimental photobiology at St. John's Institute of Dermatology in London. Anthony Young notes that a small amount of UVB rays that get through sunscreen is enough to help your body manufacture vitamin D. It is good to be aware that you can still acquire vitamin D through diet and supplements rather than intentionally exposure to harmful UV rays. Fatty fish, fortified orange juice, milk, egg yolks, beef liver, and cheese are some foods high in vitamin D.

Any cloth blocks sun rays.

Each cloth serves its purpose as it insulates the body against cold or heat conditions, provides a hygienic barrier, and keeps infectious and toxic materials away from the body. Then there are specific clothes that protect the body from ultraviolet protection. According to a study by the Skin Cancer Foundation, lighter hues like white and pastels and darker or brighter shades like red, black, and navy blue absorb more UV rays. Additionally, thicker, denser, and tighter weaves offer more protection than thin, light, and loose fabrics. Furthermore, oversized clothes protect your skin from harmful sun rays compared to smaller ones. The same also applies to hats. The best caps for sun protection have a wide brim because they are an excellent way to supplement daily sunscreen use in protecting your face from Uv light, along with UV-filtering sunglasses. They can also help defend forgettable areas like the tops of your ears and your scalp. Furthermore, less restrictive clothing is more protective than extremely tight clothing! Too much compression can stretch or tear fabric fibres, allowing more UV light to pass through the garment.

People with dark-coloured skin do not need sunscreen.

It would be best to avoid overexposing yourself to the sun because of the misconception that people with dark skin do not need sun rays. Despite having better sun protection, people with darker skin should still use full-spectrum sunscreen. Some people hold the opinion that those with darker skin types do not need to use sunscreen. This belief .bbis due to melanin's ability to diffuse UVB rays and the potential for partial sunburn protection. Melanin does not provide the same level of protection from UVA damage, which can result in early ageing and wrinkles of the skin. Everyone should wear sunscreen, regardless of skin tone, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, because no matter your age, gender, or race, skin cancer can affect you.

Sunscreens with Higher SPFs give significantly more protection.

Always it is not the quantity but the quality of something that proves its effectiveness. Shifting focus on quality rather than quality to have proper priorities in life. Quality comes with depth, is the best option, saves you energy, money, and time makes you happy, and imparts you more knowledge. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measures a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB rays from damaging the skin. Most people believe that sunscreen with an SPF of 100 offers more than three times the amount of sun protection as sunscreen with an SPF of 30. Ninety-seven per cent of the sun's rays are blocked by sunscreen with an SPF of 30. While higher SPFs are more expensive, they only stop 1 to 2 per cent more, and no sunscreen can block 100 per cent.

Sunscreens are waterproof.

Can one honestly argue that sunscreen looks like plastic, rubber, wax, silicone, or later, that can keep water out? There is nothing like waterproof sunscreen. While sunscreen brands claim to be waterproof or water-resistant, no sunscreen is completely waterproof. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, sunscreen cannot claim to be waterproof and can only be waterproof for up to 80 minutes before needing reapplication. Even then, all the sunscreen has to be reapplied after two hours anyway, so it doesn't make much difference.

You do need to wear sunscreen indoors.

We construct our houses in a way that enables light to come in; no wonder every home has more than one transparent window to allow in light. The windows could have been opaque or absent if the light was not essential. Believing that sunlight does not have access to your house is a self-deception. Apply sunscreen to all bare skin, even if you spend most of your time indoors, especially if you're close to a window. Window glass may block UVB rays but not UVA rays. According to studies, prolonged exposure to UVA rays from windows can shorten the lifespan of the skin by five to seven years and, more importantly, raise the risk of skin cancer.

You do not need sunscreen when it is cloudy or cold.

Clouds are not for blocking visible light, not Ultraviolet rays; they only reduce them. During periods of intense overcast, clouds can block up to 70% of these UV-B rays. The UV Index is directly related to the amount of radiation received at a given time of day and year. The reality is that you can get sun damage on windy, cloudy, and cool days since UV radiation, not temperature, harms the skin from the sun. Protecting your skin from the sun is still important, even if the weather is not primarily sunny. Up to 90% of the sun's rays can reach your skin on cloudy days. Sun damage is also possible on cloudy days because UV radiation can sometimes pass through the clouds and may even be intensified by reflection on them. When you are near water or sand, these elements reflect the sun, exposing your skin to other indirect UV rays and increasing the risk of burning yourself.

You need to apply sunscreen once a day.

Have you ever wondered why breakfast, lunch and supper are essential to one's health? Why don't you wait till the next day to eat another breakfast? You cannot wait for the next day because it is the nature of the body to demand food after a particular period. The same principle also applies to sunscreen. As its value depreciates with time, you need to add more to keep it as effective as possible. Experts indicate that sunlight breaks sunscreen down, so it's less effective as the day goes by. To work optimally, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or after swimming, bathing, or excessive sweating. You may not need a second application if you work indoors and sit away from windows.

Instead of believing in the myths about sunscreen; instead, apply sunscreen before you step outside. Remember that no sunscreen is perfect as well. Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, or other protective clothing, and seek shade whenever possible. Enjoy the warm, friendly weather sensibly and healthily.

Photo: https://www.sbm.org/healthy-living/sun-safety-protect-your-skin-this-summer-and-all-year-round